Committee to identify those at risk

By Campbell Massie

Published Oct. 9, 2007

A new MU committee will help identify students, faculty and staff who pose a threat to themselves or others, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs said.

After an April shooting that left 33 students and faculty dead at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, reports raised concerns about the perpetrator's mental health. That prompted talks about forming a group that would be proactive in identifying people that are at risk or are in distress at MU, Scroggs said.

The At-Risk Behaviors Committee, headed by Scroggs, will meet once every two weeks to discuss students, faculty and staff that have been identified as at-risk individuals.

These individuals could be identified by a number of people, including academic advisers or any other concerned individuals.

"What we are looking at are people who might demonstrate behaviors that put them or others in danger," Scroggs said.

The committee would then evaluate the situation, she said. Depending upon the evaluation, the committee would take action to help the person in question by contacting those closest to them and arranging counseling, talking to the individual or by taking no action but making note of the report.

"There may be some need for an intervention," Scroggs said. "There may be a need for nothing but to be aware."

The committee brings together different voices from around the campus including Counseling Center Director Rosean Bishop, Student Health Center psychiatrist Stephanie Bagby, Residential Life Associate Director Kristen Temple, MU police Maj. Doug Schwandt, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies James Spain and Office of Judicial Affairs Coordinator Donell Young. Scroggs said other experts would be invited to attend as certain issues arise.

Individuals discussed will not have anything put into their university file unless MU takes an official action, Scroggs said. She said counseling records are closed to everyone, including members of the committee with the exception of counselors.

"It will be confidential," Scroggs said. "No one would be talking about what is going on in the group."

The committee sponsored an announcement in the MU Info e-mail sent to every MU student about how to contact the committee.

"We have to let people know that there is a group like this they can contact if they have a concern," Scroggs said.